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Visible understanding

Birds use the earth’s magnetic field as their compass. But how do animals perceive their surroundings in general? Tortoises and insects such as bees can differentiate between red, blue and green and see ultraviolet light. Snakes can recognise infrared light. With dogs and cats, meanwhile, it’s only shades of blue and green. Animals also experience different intensities and gradations...

Turning the tables

Some jeans can be composted after use. Yet, in the Netherlands, a design and furniture company is investing in the circular economy, having developed a unique process which gives used furnishings a new lease of life. Tiny fibres, i.e. offcuts when jeans are recycled, are mixed with a water-based adhesive. The solution is sprayed onto the surface of newly...

Shred to put on

Coffee grounds are a key ingredient in sustainable concrete, while tiles made from eggshells are perfect for naturally-made interior fittings. Corn cobs, too, can help reduce CO2 emissions in the building trade. A Dutch startup shreds dried corn waste and presses the scraps mixed with binding agent into panels at temperatures of up to 150 degrees. These panels are...

Changing clarity

Some car tyres can adapt their size according to the terrain. Flexible walls mean flats can be easily converted. But eyewear that automatically adjusts focus between near and distant objects? Sounds unlikely, but it’s exactly the product a startup from Japan has recently developed together with a design firm. Before first use, consumers adjust the diopter for both integrated...

Timely connection

Bears can teach us about blood sugar levels. If our blood sugar - or blood pressure - is too high, it can lead to chronic kidney disease. Early detection is rare, however, since the disease can be symptomless at the start. Enter an Edinburgh-based research team and its high-resolution 3D eye scans. By laser scanning retinal tissue - aka...

Shared couple

Trains offer sustainable transportation, especially when they remove CO2. Buses, too, at least compared with private cars. But the average usage rate of public transportation is only 15% in Europe. The electric ‘collective’ taxis developed by an Italian startup could soon change all that, because on shared routes, their modules combine together to make buses. Depending on the desired...

Protective detection

Wheelchairs can be controlled by the tiniest head movements. Of the 130 million wheelchair users worldwide, however, some 60% develop an ulcer at some point in their lives. This is caused by the pressure resulting from their remaining in the same position for long periods of time. But a Portuguese startup has developed a digital solution for the problem....

Personalised placeholders

When it comes to storing information, our brain can be lazy. Chatbots with AI, however, absorb even the smallest details and learn from them. Including personal details. Often these are identified through a device’s location or IP address, but sometimes they are actively provided. For example, when a chatbot is fed concrete information or emails to produce a text....

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